Smith Pitches No-Hitter as Softball Sweeps Hartford

Tuesday, May 3

West Hartford, CT

3 PM

Army West Point

34-17

Hartford

6-40

Army

Hartford

Smith Pitches No-Hitter as Softball Sweeps Hartford

May 03, 2016 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – After sweeping Hartford in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday evening, the Army West Point softball team has reached 35 regular season wins which ties the program record. The Black Knights defeated the Hawks by scores of 7-0 and 5-3. Caroline Smith pitched her first career no-hitter and was one batter away from the perfect game.

The 2016 squad ties the 2012 record of 35 regular season wins with three more games on the docket.

Army took command of the series with a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one. Kasey McCravey doubled to center field and advanced to third on a misthrow by the Hawks. She then scored the first run of the game off a passed ball by Hartford.

The Black Knights tacked on three more runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Kristen McPeek and Caroline Smith reached following back-to-back singles to the outfield. Hailey Megge and Michaela Hoover were both subbed in as pinch runners for McPeek and Smith and scored on the next two at-bats for Army.

Gladys Esparza-Gallegos singled to right field which pushed the runners ahead to both reside in scoring position. Then, a throwing error by the right fielder, moved runners up a base allowing Megge to score. Taylor Gaff singled to the pitcher on the next play advancing Hoover home. Maddie Kim notched an RBI double to right center which sent Esparza-Gallegos home.

In the top of the seventh, McCravey led the Black Knights off with her second double of the night. Alee Rashenskas laced a single down the left field line to send McCravey around the bases to give Army a 5-0 advantage.

McPeek was next up to bat and singled to center field to put Rashenskas into scoring position. Smith then singled to advance everyone a base before Esparza-Gallegos notched an RBI single to the pitcher as Rashenskas scored. With Esparza-Gallegos on first, the Cadets replaced her with Sam Hartman as a pinch runner. Gaff recorded RBI number two of the game when she singled to center field to send McPeek home increasing Army's lead to 7-0.

Smith retired 19-straight Hartford batters as the Hawks did not reach a base until the home half of the seventh inning off an error by the Black Knights to break the perfect game. The Hawks attempted a late comeback with one player in scoring position, but were denied the chance as Army retired the next two batters.

Game two was much of the same as the Cadets took another early advantage. Army jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first fueled by RBI singles from Smith and Esparza-Gallegos. Hartford tied things up in the bottom of the fourth when M. Ferguson homered to left field to drive in three runs for the Hawks.

The Black Knights responded with a home run of their own when McCravey led off in the top of the fifth with one over the left field fence. This snapped the tie and gave Army back its advantage with the score residing at 4-3.

In the top of the seventh, Mae Wadyka bunted to get on base before McCravey was walked. The tandem stole second and third to put themselves into scoring position with no outs. Kristen McPeek was lined out to center field to ignite a scoring opportunity for Army. Wadyka tagged up and ran home from the fly ball to give the Cadets a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Kristen West was the winning pitcher in game two to pick up her 15th of the season. Renee Poirier stepped into the circle for the Black Knights in the home half of the sixth to pick up her 11th save on the year. The freshman leads the nation in saves and is one shy of tying Army's career record for saves.

Army returns home for its final regular season Patriot League series as it hosts Lafayette Saturday and Sunday. The team will honor three first classmen on Sunday during a senior day celebration prior to the 1 p.m. start.

For up-to-date information about Army softball, please follow @ArmyWP_Softball on Twitter and Instagram.